FAQs

All applications, including international applications, are handled by UCAS.

All applications are made through UCAS and with a deadline of the 15th of October for the intake of September the following year, so applications are made just under a one year in advance of the start of the course.

You must be honest with the veterinary schools you and considering applying to and inform them directly of your circumstances. They will then be able to advise you of their position. Several veterinary schools perform DBS (formerly CRB) checks on incoming students.

Always be up front and honest with your chosen veterinary schools and inform them directly of any history of mental illness you may have. Failure to tell them before you start a course may affect how your history is subsequently appraised. Ask for details of their fitness to practise processes; these will give you a good idea of what the individual schools look for in their candidates.

The typical offer does vary between veterinary schools, but generally it is three A’s at A-level. A small number of veterinary schools offer at AAB and A*A*A. For Scottish Highers, the typical offer is two Advanced Highers at BB and five Highers at AAAAB, and again there is variation between the veterinary school. For instance, some require AA at Advanced Highers.

See the Applications page for more on entry requirements.

Contact the admissions department at your intended veterinary school and ask for advice. The contact details for each veterinary school can be found on their websites.

Most vet schools will list the entry requirements for qualifications such as A levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB). They may also list what the requirements are for other qualifications from outside of the UK.

To find out whether a vet school accepts your qualification, and what the requirements are, you should see individual school websites or contact them directly.

Work experience could be in a local veterinary practice or anywhere in which you would be able to gain experience of handling animals, including livestock and farm animals. Present a CV and covering letter, and state that you are thinking of pursuing a career as a vet. Don’t be disheartened if there is no work experience available. Work experience is not considered a substitute for academic qualification and veterinary schools will select their candidates primarily on their academic record.

UK veterinary schools welcome international students. Entry requirements are the same as for domestic students, but you may need to approach the veterinary schools directly in order to see how your qualifications and grades translate into the UK system.

For more information on visa and immigration issues, visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) is another useful organisation, so be sure to visit the UKBA website.

Useful information about financial help for overseas students can be accessed from the UKCISA and British Council websites. School-specific scholarships or bursaries may be available through the veterinary schools.

If your course starts on or after the 1 August 2021 you will no longer be eligible for home fee status, undergraduate, postgraduate and further education financial support from Student Finance England unless you meet one of the following criteria:

• you are able to benefit from the citizens rights agreements
• you are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland – benefits of Irish nationals under the Common Travel Area arrangement will continue

You should ask the relevant student funding body if you’re eligible for any support if you’re studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

For more detail, please see the UK government website.

No. Citizenship does not automatically guarantee Home fee status. Normally, to be considered a Home student, applicants will need to fulfil the following:

• Be a citizen (so be able to live in the UK unrestricted by visas)
• Be ordinarily resident in the UK (you must currently live in the UK, and be living here for at least the last three years)
• The reason you have lived in the UK has not been for education (for example you cannot be on a student visa)

There are other exceptions for being considered as a Home student, however for more detail you should contact the medical school you are interested in applying to and the UK Council for International Student Affairs.